From Library Journal
This useful compendium of information begins with several general essays on African drama, including some 32 dramatic traditions in Black Africa. (There is a separate volume for Arabic Africa.) Some small dramatic traditions are covered by overview essays, but most countries have sustained studies that achieve a surprising degree of depth and subtlety covering many cultures and languages. They examine traditional ritual as well as formal theatrical drama. Entries follow a common form, beginning with an historical essay; moving on to discussions of the national theater, artistic profiles of important dramatists, theater for young audiences, puppet and mask theater, and architecture; and ending with a unit on training, criticism, scholarship, and publishing. Each chapter ends with a strong bibliography, and an extensive general bibliography is included as well. Together with the previous volumes on Europe (LJ 2/15/95) and America (1995), this effort succeeds admirably at promoting interest in global theater.?Thomas E. Luddy, Salem State Coll., Mass.Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Book News, Inc.
The second of a projected six volumes on nations and their theatres since 1945. Sketching out a social and political context for each of the countries studied, articles explore each country's national theatre in 12 sections: history, structure of the national theatre community, artistic profile, music theatre, dance theatre, theatre for young audiences, puppet theatre, design, theatre space and architecture, training, criticism-scholarship-publishing, and further reading. Includes an introduction, several general essays on theatre in the Americas, and a glossary. For theatrical professionals and researchers on the profession. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.


Choice - 10/98
"...Not simply an aid to research, this volume gives an exciting introduction to Africa's fascinating, varied, and vibrant theatrical scene..."


Reference User & Services Quarterly - Winter 1997
"...invaluable to anyone interested in the recent history of African theater....a valuable addition to any academic or research library..."

FROM THE PUBLISHER

This lavishly illustrated volume examines theatrical developments since 1945 in more than 40 African countries. The authoritative entries on each country have been written by the leading scholars, critics and theatre practitioners working within the area discussed. Preceeding the entries are specialist introductory essays on Anglophone Africa, Francophone Africa, History and Culture, Cosmology, Music, Dance, Theatre for Young Audiences and Puppetry, and general essays on African theatre written by Nobel Prize Laureate Wole Soyinka and the outstanding Congolese playwright, Sony Labou Tansi, before his untimely death in 1995.

The countries covered are: Angola * Benin * Burkina * Faso * Burundi * Cameroon * Chad * Congo * Cote d'Ivoire * Ethiopia * Ghana * Guinea * Guinea Bissau * Kenya * Liberia * Madagascar * Mali * Mauritius * Mozambique * Namibia * Niger * Nigeria * Rwanda * Senegal * Seychelles Islands * Sierra Leone * South Africa * Tanzania * Togo * Uganda * Zaire * Zambia * Zimbabwe

The World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre (WECT) is the largest international co-operative publication in the history of world theater. In six outstanding volumes, WECT documents artistic development all over the world, country by country, region by region. Volumes One and Two, on Europe and the Americas respectively have already been published to outstanding reviews. studies and African studies. Volume 4 will deal with The Arab World, Volume 5 with Asia/Oceania, and Volume 6 will provide a Bibliography and Cumulative Index. There is a 10% discount for standing orders.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal

This useful compendium of information begins with several general essays on African drama, including some 32 dramatic traditions in Black Africa. (There is a separate volume for Arabic Africa.) Some small dramatic traditions are covered by overview essays, but most countries have sustained studies that achieve a surprising degree of depth and subtlety covering many cultures and languages. They examine traditional ritual as well as formal theatrical drama. Entries follow a common form, beginning with an historical essay; moving on to discussions of the national theater, artistic profiles of important dramatists, theater for young audiences, puppet and mask theater, and architecture; and ending with a unit on training, criticism, scholarship, and publishing. Each chapter ends with a strong bibliography, and an extensive general bibliography is included as well. Together with the previous volumes on Europe (LJ 2/15/95) and America (1995), this effort succeeds admirably at promoting interest in global theater.Thomas E. Luddy, Salem State Coll., Mass.

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